Title: 20 minutes in America (more or less)   Josh’s eyes were almost closed when he let himself into the apartment. He stumbled into the kitchen and finally focused. As his hand reached for one of the imported beers Sam insisted on stocking their refrigerator with, he saw Sam, face down, head resting on his arms, asleep at their kitchen table.   He leaned down, kissed the top of Sam’s head gently and sighed deeply, inhaling the various scents that made up Sam’s unique smell. Fabric softener, from laying with his head resting on his arms. Cigarette smoke from, probably, the President. Finally, older, less noticeable scents. Shampoo, conditioner, hair gel. And…   ‘Mallory?’   Sam stirred. Sleepily, he murmured. ‘Nice dress Mal.’   Josh laughed and ruffled Sam’s hair. ‘Thanks honey.’   Sam squirmed, waking reluctantly. ‘Um…Josh…uh…hi.’   Josh hooked a hand under Sam’s elbow. ‘Bed. Now.’   Sam sighed. ‘Josh, I really missed you but I don’t think I can…’   ‘Sleep Sam!’ Josh shook his head. ‘Just sleep. Come on.’   *********************   Josh settled Sam into bed, pulling off his clothes as carefully as he could, trying to let Sam stay at least half-asleep.  With a look over his shoulder at Sam, he went into the bathroom, showered quickly and returned, towel around his waist, dropping it on the floor as he slid under the bedclothes. He sighed, shaking his head, as Sam barely stirred.   Somehow he was going to have to make sure Sam did nothing the following day. Which was going to be as easy as fastening his own bowtie. He closed his eyes and smiled as Sam snuggled into his still-damp body. Kissing him gently, Josh wrapped his arm around Sam and closed his eyes.   **********************   Next morning…   Sam stirred and rolled onto his back. He inhaled deeply, a slow smile forming. Opening his eyes, he looked up at a slightly flushed Josh. ‘You made pancakes.’   Josh bit his lip. ‘Um…kinda.’   Sam sniffed experimentally, wrinkling his nose. ‘Did you set fire to the kitchen?’   ‘Almost. The first time. The second I just burned the mix. This is number three.’ Josh tipped the plate up so Sam, still lying down, could see clearly, then hastily leveled it as the pancakes slid alarmingly towards Sam.   Sam nodded appreciatively.  ‘They look good.’   Josh slid his hand from behind his back. ‘Hazelnut chocolate sauce.’   Sam’s grin matched Josh’s as they tipped the sauce on two of the pancakes, rolled them into cigar shapes and began to eat. Josh did a poor Groucho Marx impression, which made Sam laugh. Josh decided he liked the sight and sound of Sam like that and did it again, this time accidently  dripping a large splodge of warmed sauce onto Sam’s chest. Sam gasped and Josh ran his finger through the spreading puddle, putting it to Sam’s lips, smiling as Sam sucked sensuously, making appreciative sounds as he thoroughly cleaned the finger, trying not to laugh at Josh’s squirming. Josh leaned down impatiently, licking Sam’s pale skin clean, nonchalantly moving his tongue and lips up to Sam’s nipple, sucking and biting gently, feeling Sam arch up towards him. The pancakes cooled unnoticed on the floor beside the bed.   Later…   They lay beside each other, breathing deeply, fingers entwined. Eventually, both of them calmed enough to realize they needed to shower. Or something.   Sam rolled onto his stomach, his chin resting on Josh’s chest. ‘We should go into work.’   Josh frowned. ‘It’s Sunday Sam. We don’t have to.’   Sam lifted himself up slowly, dropping a regretful kiss onto Josh’s belly. ‘I wasn’t any help yesterday.’   ‘And we have to go into the office because..?’   Sam rolled his eyes. ‘I need to read everything on your desk.’   Josh shook his head. ‘Nah. It’s not gonna happen again. Us getting stranded.’   Sam raised his eyebrows. ‘No?’   Josh shook his head confidently. ‘Donna’s buying a spare cell phone battery.’   Sam laughed, the bed shaking. ‘Its official. You’re smarter than I am.’   Josh nodded solemnly. ‘Yeah. I’m older. With age comes wisdom.’   Sam considered this for a moment. ‘The President and Leo must be really smart.’   ‘They are. They chose us to work for them.’   Sam grinned and lay beside Josh, snuggled closely, sighing as Josh’s arm wrapped around him.   ‘Maybe we could go in later?’   Josh nodded, his chin scraping across Sam’s hair. ‘Yeah. Later.’ End Send me feedback on this fic Return to the X-Files Fic Index Return to the West Wing Fic Index